Non-profit events and news for the week of Dec. 17

Bogota Savings Bank will collect new toys until Dec. 20 for the Toys for Tots program in partnership with the Gooney Bird Detachment of the Marine Corps League based in New Milford. Toys collected will be distributed to the pediatric wards of Englewood Hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center and Holy Name Medical Center. Please drop off unwrapped, new toys to the Bogota Savings Bank locations in Teaneck and Bogota. To contact the bank, visit http://www.BogotaSavingsBank.com.

Students from the Lakeview School's Career Awareness Program in Edison have created holiday cards to support Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County. The cards are on sale and being showcased through Dec. 24 at Habitat's gift-wrapping station at the Bergen Town Center in Paramus, directly in front of Whole Foods. All proceeds support Habitat's building projects in Oradell and New Milford, in addition to future Sandy rehabilitation plans. C.A.P. provides students with disabilities with guidance and skills for the workplace. For information about Habitat's Gift-Wrapping Project, contact Christina Dello Buono at Christinad@habitatbergen.org or 201.457.1020.

The South Bergen Rotary Club needs the public's help to play Santa Claus to more than 100 families who lost their homes in Moonachie and Little Ferry during superstorm Sandy. The club has already signed up nearly 100 families with requests for holiday toys, but so far only 30 have been "adopted" by community volunteers offering to fulfill their requests. Families' requests range from clothing to toys to small appliances. To sign up and adopt a family, visit the Rotary's website at nynjrotary.org and click on the Sandy's Santa's tab at the top of the page. You'll receive a code and a list of items each family has requested. The gifts need to be delivered to Rotary by Dec. 21 so that the organization has enough time to wrap and distribute them. For more information, contact Rotary Club President Robert T. Olson at rtolson83@gmail.com.

Community Meals, a meals on wheels organization, will benefit from the Ridgewood Art Institute's holiday show and sale through Dec. 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 12 E. Glen Ave. Ten percent of all sales will benefit Community Meals. Free admission. 201-447-8295 or communitymeals@verizon.net.

The Wayne YMCA will begin an after-school program starting Jan. 2 at 1 Pike Drive. Elementary school children will be able to participate in such activities as archery, cooking, swimming, arts and crafts in addition to structured homework time. Transportation to the Y from schools will be provided. The Youth Enrichment Program is offered daily until 7 p.m. following the Wayne School calendar. All fees are waived for the balance of the 2012-13 school year. 973-595-0100 or wayneymca.org. The Y will also be offering one free eight-week swimming lesson to children in the second grade in the Wayne school district. Registration has begun for the winter program which runs Jan. 2 through Feb. 24. A flier and current report card are required for registration. The 30-minute lessons are held Monday through Thursday at 4:30 or 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 10 or 10:30 a.m. at 1 Pike Drive. Fliers available: wayneymca.org, 973-595-0100, ext. 259.

United Way of Passaic County is holding a "Winter Wishes Program" to help individuals, children and families with disabilities during the holiday season. There are opportunities to host a toy drive, register to sponsor an individual or family or donate new toys or food store gift cards. Jackie Park Albaum, 973-279-8900, ext. 202 or jackie@unitedwaypassaic.org.

VOLUNTEERS

Oasis - A Haven for Women and Children in Paterson is seeking volunteers for its Christmas lunch and toy room event Dec. 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers are needed for table set-up, meet and greet, outside line patrol, sign-in, seating, monitoring, cake cutting, food plating, food, coffee and water serving and clean-up duties. Evelyn Innocenti, evelyninnocenti@oasisnj.org or 973-881-8307, ext. 133.

DONATIONS/GRANTS

North Jersey Friendship House was recipient of a $100,000 grant from the OritaniBank Charitable Foundation to be utilized in expanding it's facility by creating a commercial training kitchen.

ITT Exelis and Jersey Cares together donated holiday gift bags for distribution to returning military service members and their families by Home Front Hearts, an organization which provides support and resources to military families.

The Women's Rights Information Center was recipient of a $2,000 donation from the Englewood Community Chest serving Englewood, Tenafly and Englewood Cliffs to benefit its clients victimized by superstorm Sandy.

Project Literacy of Greater Bergen County received a $5,000 grant from Hudson City Savings Bank for its One to One tutoring program.

Kula for Karma raised more than $150,000 at its annual fundraising gala to support its therapeutic yoga and meditation programs.

The RealSource Association of REALTORS donated $15,000 to the REALTORS Relief Fund to be directly distributed to superstorm Sandy victims in New Jersey.

Zoe's Place was recipient of a $2,500 grant from the Provident Bank Foundation to be used in its mission of aiding pregnant teens, teen moms and their children by providing supervised housing and individualized guidance and support services.

Children from the Eagles Day Camp program operated by the Eastern Christian Elementary School $2,000 from camper registrations and collected a large amount of food donations to benefit victims of superstorm Sandy. The money and food were split evenly between the Salvation Army and New Hope Community Ministries.

Hudson City Savings Bank donated $3,000 to the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges to help support it's annual "Strong Kids Campaign".